Early winter in the Alps: 10 inches of snow sweeps Swiss and Austrian mountains a month before it's due... leaving authorities scrambling to clear roads

Parts of Austria and Switzerland were surprised by unseasonably early snowfall overnight a month before it is expected.

The Swiss meteorological agency said earlier today that the town of Montana, in the southern canton of Valais, experienced almost 10 inches (25 centimetres) of snowfall — a new record for this time of year.

The change came after a sharp drop in temperatures and heavy precipitation. 

Authorities were out in force across mountainous regions in the two Alpine nations to clear roads that had become blocked by snow and ice.

In parts of Austria, snowfall was recorded as low as 1,805 feet (550 meters) above sea level.  

Late October usually heralds the very first big snowfalls and the early signs of winter in the Alps when average temperatures in the valley drop to below 50F (10C).

Trees are covered in snow in Kals, Austria, after residents were surprised by unseasonably early snowfall overnight

The Swiss meteorological agency said earlier today that the town of Montana, in the southern canton of Valais, experienced 25 centimetres (almost 10 inches) of snowfall. Pictured: Noesslach near Innsbruck, Austria

The snowfall set a new record for this time of year (a cow pictured standing in a snow covered meadow in Kals, Austria)

An aerial picture shows hikers walking at the snow covered Grossglockner mountain as authorities worked to clear roads that had become blocked by snow and ice

Vehicles making their way through heavy snow fall on motorway A13 in Noesslach near Innsbruck, Austria, during the snowfall

The change came after a sharp drop in temperatures and heavy precipitation across the Alpine regions. Pictured: Cows stand on a snow covered meadow in Kals, Austria

In parts of Austria, snowfall was recorded as low as 550 meters (1,805 feet) above sea level. Pictured: An aerial picture shows snow covered trees at the Grossglockner mountain